Blackbeard Island NWR contains a variety of habitat types ideal for wildlife viewing, including maritime forest and miles of sandy beach which attracts threatened loggerhead a

Saltwater creeks which pass through refuge marshland are open to fishing the entire year. Fishing in freshwater ponds is permitted except during managed hunts (however drought conditions have severly impacted the ponds and associated fishing).

Two archery hunts for deer are scheduled on the island in the fall and winter. For a schedule of hunt dates and hunt regulations, contact the Savannah Coastal Refuges complex headquarters in Savannah, Georgia.

Interpretive walks are provided, on a limited basis, to organized groups. Tours must be scheduled through the Savannah Coastal Refuges headquarters in Savannah, GA. Groups must arrange their own transportation to the island.

Wildlife observation, especially birdwatching, is excellent throughout the year on Blackbeard Island. In winter months, waterfowl utilize the marshland and man-made freshwater pools, while songbirds abound in the wooded acres in the spring and fall. The existing trails and roads provide visitors with scenic paths ideal for nature study, and hiking and bicycling. Rough, sandy conditions exist on many of the trails, therefore bicyclers should have the experience and the equipment necessary to handle such terrain. Visitors also need to be aware of the boundaries of the designated wilderness on Blackbeard Island as bicycles are not allowed within that area (foot traffic only).

Leave No Trace Leave No Trace is a national educational program to inform visitors about reducing the damage caused by outdoor activities, particularly non-motorized recreation. Leave No Trace principles and practices are based on an abiding respect for the natural world and our fellow wildland visitors. We can act on behalf of the places and wildlife that inspire us by adopting the skills and ethics that enable us to Leave No Trace.

For more information on Leave No Trace, visit the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics Web site. (http://www.lnt.org)

Blackbeard Island NWR is open to the public daily, from dawn to dusk (year-round. Visitors should be advised that there are no on-site staff or facilities (visitor center, restrooms, etc.) on the refuge.